Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Game of Thrones, Season 2, Episode 4: Garden of Bones

We start in the Lannister war camp where 2 soldiers are
deciding who is the best sword in the Seven Kingdoms and making gay jokes about
Loras and Renly – until a surprise attack by Robb and his army taking out the
camp. One of his advisors is pushing for him to torture the prisoners for more
information –but Robb won’t give the Lannisters and excuse to abuse his sisters

And we get some rough field surgery of a Lannister soldier to remove his leg –
with Robb willing to help even though it’s the enemy. The doctor who treated
him has little time for lords and their wars and the cost they bring to common
people. Especially since Robb has no plans for the Seven Kingdoms after Joffrey
is deposed.

At Kings Landing Joffrey’s supporters are making up
outlandish tales for how Robb is winning the war – and blaming Sansa for the
loss and having her attacked and beaten in court – until Tyrion arrives and
brings the awesome with him – reminding dear Joffrey that the “Mad” King Aerys
thought he could do whatever he wanted with impunity as well before he was
killed. He also has some masterful threats for the Kingsguard as well and kind
tenderness for Sansa. Despite that, Sansa cannot trust even Tyrion.

Unfortunately then Tyrion and Bron discuss getting Joffrey
laid to help temper his sadistic tendencies, oh no Tyrion, cling on to the
awesome. Why do I think A prostitute will be involved soon?

And yes, the next scene there are 2 women in Joffrey’s
rooms who proceed to make out with each other for Joffrey’s viewing pleasure.
Joffrey is still a sadist however, and forces one woman to brutally beat the
other.

Back with Tyrion, his cousin Lancell brings a writ from
Cersei to order the release of Pycelle.
Oh, Cersei, Lancell is no match for Tyrion who threatens to tell Joffrey that Lancel
is sleeping with Cersei. And Tyrion has another spy and agent.

At the travelling court of King Renly, Littlefinger has
arrived to deal with him. Renly makes his contempt for the man utterly plain.
Baelish tries to offer a secret compact with Renly, but Renly doesn’t have much
truck with him.

That night, however, he meets Queen Margaery, and starts
making several digs about Margaery having to sleep alone and Renly sleeping
with Loras. Margaery has to subtly declare her loyalty to Renly for Baelish.

Then Baelish gets to meet Cat the Spunky, she who he has
always loved who is Very Displeased with him and finally holds him at dagger
point – wow, for the first time I’m driven to cheer Cat. But Baelish says the Lannisters have both her
daughters and Baelish is saying they will trade the daughters for Jaime
Lannister and that they should take the opportunity before the war turns
against Robb. As a sign of good faith Tyrion Lannister has sent Ned’s remains.

Later King Renly (and Cat) meet King Stannish, Renly’s
older brother and another claimant to the throne – and he’s accompanied by
Melisandre, priestess of the Lord of Light. They bicker for a while and Cat
decides to scold them for their sniping. Stannis in turn is not impressed with
Catelyn talking to Renly when Stannis is the heir that Ned Stark supported.

Stannis gives Renly an ultimatum – despite Renly having the much much larger
army – he has 1 night to support Stannis or be destroyed.

Later we see Stannis and Ser Davros talking – and us
learning the full extent of Stannis’ inflexible justice. He wants Ser Davros to
smuggle Melisandre ashore. In the cave she stripes naked (of course) and
reveals that she is heavily pregnant. The torch flares to life and Melisandre
gives birth to a shadowy, skeletal creature.

Arya is still a prisoner of the Lannisters, though they don’t
know her. She and the boys who were being taken to the Wall are taken to a
brutal and merciless prison completer with despairing prisoners and lots of
screaming. It’s a very disturbing and well shown scene, carrying a lot in very
little time. While sleeping in the rain, she chants the names of her enemies.

The keep is ruled by Ser Gregor the Mountain the most brutal of the Lannisters
vassals and every day he picks someone to torture and kill. His torturers are
looking for something called the Brotherhood. And the next to be taken is
Gendry – at least, until Tywin Lannister shows up. Tywin is irritated by the
number of people being killed for no good purpose when the Lannisters need both
the soldiers and the labour (especially since Gendry is a smith), he also spots
that Arya is a girl and takes her a sa cupbearer.

Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys is still in the Red Waste
and she learns that the city of Qarth will allow her to enter. She is greeted
outside the city walls by the 13 rulers of Qarth (and a considerable force of
guards) and there begins a fencing of words between Daenerys and 1 of the 13 –
he wanting to see the dragons, she wanting food and water for her people. They don’t
want to let her in – but one of the 13 vouches for her, her people and her dragons,
allowing them access

We have another POC as one of the 13 of Qarth who is
willing to be an ally of Daenerys – she collects POC it seems. He seems to be
devoid of the usual stereotypes at least, but it’s unfortunate that POC are
largely seen following and serving Daenerys, the whitest of white folk.

While Tyrion is awesome I dislike the implication that it’s
absolutely inconceivable for Cersei to be forcing Lancel when she has so much
power over him – ability to overpower Cersei means little when we’ve already
seen what Cersei considers power

I could really do without the completely gratuitous and
unnecessary gay jokes all the time – we have no explanation as to why Westeros
is a homophobic society (though lots of fans justifying and ignoring it) and
why all these people, consumed with war, care so much and Renly and Loras.

We still have prostitutes, as ever, but less than usual (Baelish has gone a whole episode without a prostitute. He must be in withdrawl) but they are still highly vulnerable and expendable people. And I don't see what they needed to be here. Joffrey is vile? We know this. We don't need more examples. That there's a power play between Joffrey and Tyrion? We knew this! It was gratuitous and abusive and served no good purpose

I’m glad to see more supernatural elements in the show –
I like the politics as much as any, but I do want to see the fantastic